Steam engine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheen 1.

J. V. RICE, Jr. STEAM ENGINE.

10.465,100. Patem'ed Deq. 15,1891.

, /Y/W/oi w im@ o E I. 5 k1 (No Model.) 3. sheets-Sheet 2.

J. V. RICE, Jr. STEAM ENGINE.

No.465,100. Patented Deo. l5, 1891.

(No Modell.) 3 SheeEs-Sheet`3 J V'. RICE, Jr.

STEAM ENGINE.

110.465,100. Patented Dec. 15,1891.

the line 3S l i f the engine as represented 1n Fig. l.

one of the mision-head covers.' .Lig. `ll is an til. section on the line 'w n; of Figf 2. Fig. l2 is an enlarged section of one of the'y t NTTn STaTee 5To a][ Nw/11, -z'tllnfL/y L'OI'LLTPI/m i e itl known4 thatl, JOHN V. RICE, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at @hes ter, in `the `eou-ntyof Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and `useful Improvements in Steam-Engines; and Idohereby deelare the 'following to bea t'ull, `clear, and exact-'description `et the invention,

.silehas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

in steam-engines, and more lnivrtiioularly to that kinder class known as direct-acting, itsobjeet being to provide au engine whereby wit-li a simple organization, easy action, small s,ize,light. weight., 'Een' parts, and cheap and eieonomieai runninga high ei'iieieney and great rapidity of operation maybe developed; and the invention Consists in the Construction, ar- *angemenn and combination of parts, suhstaniiaily :is will he hereinafter described and elaimed. ,e

' .n'the annexed drawing@ illustrating my invention, Figure l isa plan view of my imv pr'oved t gine in partial'horizontal section on the line 7/ .l/ of Fig. `f3. A Fig. is a vertical longitudinal section ot' the same on the line :i211: of Fig. 3. lfig. 3 is a left-hand end Tele ration of the engine as represented in Fig. i. Fig. t is' a eros ot' Fig. l.' Fig. 5` a horizontal section on the line 411g/of Figfi, it being similar to Fig. l', but showing 'the parts'in a dif@ ferent relative position, the engine being `reversed. Fig. t3 is a right-hand elevation of Fig. 7 is an'elevation of the interior of one ofthe piston-heads. Fig. S- is adelevational view of one side oil one of-the ratchet-disks. Fig. D is au elevational view of the other side of said Fig. l0 is a View of the inner face of enlarged de ratchet-(umts on the line r n of Figs. @and t); lj is a transverse seetion on'the line n ny o t` l. lf`ig. ll is a perspeetiveviewof one oiihe stop-blocks. Fig. l5 is a erossQseetifon of the saine on the lino s .sof Fig". iti. 1G `represents aii'ront view ot/oue ofI these blocks and two reverse sectional edge views taken onthe line f oi the front view.4 -li`ig.-

e M. STEAM'.

This invention reiates to an improvement rig. y

PaTnnT @Titien JOII` Y. RICE, JR., OF CHESTER, VPF..'NSYLYANTN antoine.

' SPECIFICATIONforiiiingpart of Letters lPatent o. 465,100, dated December 15, 1891.

` 'Applicatie finanant@ 4,1390. Rnewea september 12,1891. sani No. 405,455. et@ motion `figures' of the drawings.

' In the example ot my engine presented in the drawings by way ot' illustration, A designates theeylinder et an engineot the singleoylinder (lireetaeting type, said cylinder A being open-ended to the atmosphere, there being at each end a suitable skeleton or other. frame arranged to support certain of the mechanical parte.

Midway of thelength ot the cylinder A is a iransijersepartitionordiaphragm B. (SeeFigs. and 5, and especially the detail View in Fig. i3.) or provided with passages, so that there may au inlet on the top at I) and exhaust-outlote` on each side of the oylinder at b D', allot' which is clearly shown in Fig. 13.- rthe steam whieh enters lthe passage (1 finds its way into the eylinder through suitable ports or opening.A in the partition li, as' shown in Figr?, said ports being controlled by a valve E', eonsistiug, preferably, of a fiat. strip arranged to l rotate by boing provided with journals ,B2 E?, -seetional inner elevation ou having` hearings in the partition. rlhe exhaust likewise takes place through these ports, and therefore the valve l5 regulates both the admission and exhaust ots-team'. As shown in Fig-.2, it permits the space on one side of 'the This partition l is suitably channeled diaphragm to; communicate with the steaminieti'or the admission ot steam 'and the rapace on: the other side of said diaphragin'tosimultaneously comm un ieate with the exlia.ust,-pas sages for theA outlet oi' the exlia'usbsteam.

When the valve Shifts, a revereeeondition takes place andv the other side o the partition.

Ti'ii'liin theA `cylinder A is adouble-headed lar eonneetionv passes through a perforation in the center t the partition B, a sending-box bei-ngprovided to form a tight fit and prevent leakage during the reeiproeatory movements ofthe piston. Each of the piston-heads C and neam is allowed to `enter at C-is provided with a cover-'plate G, removably secured thereto by means ot bolts or any other suitable devices. An outer face view of one of the plates G is shown in Fig 4, and 5 an inner face View in Fig. l0. These covers are provided with a pair of oblong openings G G', through which play the beveled project-ions on the stopblock s,whose construction and function will be presently explained.

l1o y On the outei` face of the covers G is a spring Y l Q, carrying a pin which projects through an opening in the cover and enters a hole in the stop-block. This spring serves as acatch to hold the stop-block from being displaced. The tension of this spring is easily overcome when the block is shifted. Said block ,has two holes, as seen in Fig. 14, so that the pin may engage one ofthem when the block is in one position and the other when the block. is in the zo otherposition. The mere shifting of the block operates to disengage the pin therefrom, inasmuch as the spring which carries the pin is of an easy tension, and therefore, the movementof the blockis amplysuicient to throw the pin out of the hole.

Inside of each of the piston-heads C and C is loosely located a ratchet-disk, which has `the function of'a clutch for Aconnecting the piston at the proper time with a rotative shaft 3o in such a manner as to .impart a movement to the latter, which in turn transmits motion to the valve. In Fig. J2 one of these ratchetdisks is shown enlarged in a deta? view, and in Fig.' 11 its position within the piston-head 5 is distinctly illustrated. F indicates these ratchet-disks, there being one of them in each head. They each havea sleeve Il, which lies withinthe tubular connection D, said connection being provided with interior stops d, 4o against which the inner ends ot' ,the sleeve may abut. The peripheryof the disk is preferably inclined or beveled on each side, as

shown, and for a purpose which will soon appear. Each disk on its face adjacent to the sleeve His formed with a circular ratchet or circular series of teeth or indentationsf, said f teeth or ind'entat-ions being formed within a circular groove, so that they lic below the surface of the disk-face. (See Fig. 8.) The piston- 5o head is provided on its in'ner face with a corresponding series of ratchet-teeth or indentations c (see Fig. ll) directly opposite the teeth j", said teeth c projecting from the surface of the head and adapted to engage tecthj" when desired. It may be propel' to state at this point, what is suftcientlyobvious from an in= spection ot' the drawings, that these sleeved ratchet-disks, beingloosely placed, havea certain range of movement permitted them with- Go in their respective heads, so that at times they are engaged with the ratchet-teeth on the head and at times are disengaged therefrom. Each disk, morover, on its face opposite the sleeve and toward the piston-cover G is provided with anothery series of ratchetteethf, which project from the surface of the disk-face. (See Fig. il, also Figs. 11 and l2.)

The cover G of the piston-head is provided on its inner face with a corresponding series of ratchet-teeth or indentations g, which are formed within acircnlar groove, so that they lie below the surface of the face of the cover,

(see Fig. 10,) and these teeth gare direetlyopposite the disk-teethf and adapted to be engaged thereby at the propertime. In Figs. 1 and 2 the teeth ff and c are shown engaged when we look at piston-head C', and looking at the piston-head C" in Fig. 11 we see teeth f and c in engagement, Whereas in viewing piston-head C in Fig. 5 we see teethfand g in engagement with each other. Thus it will be seen that these sleeved ratchet-disks are adapted to shift back and fort-h, so as at different times to be connected with the teeth on the head proper, at other times with the iis teeth on the cover-plate, and at othei1 times A oceu pying a position between these two where they are not connected with either set of teeth, but are held or kept in this latter po,- sition by means of the stop-blocks, to he presently described.

The sleeved ratchet-disks are provided with internal ribs of a partially-spiral form, and denoted by 71, and 7L. (See Fig. 12.) These spiral ribs are adapted to engage spiral grooves e and e on a longitudinal shaft E, located centrally withinthe eylinder'and supported at each end in bearings in the end frames. through the piston-heads, and also through their tubular connection. It has collars e2 e2 next to its bearings to prevent endwise displacement, and its-said bearings for the ends E E. are' screwed into the frames, one of them-as R, for instance-bei ng adj ustableby rotation, so as to take up any wear that may occur. The spiral grooves e ande' on the shaft E run in opposite spirals from each end and meet and cross at the middleot the shaft, said middle portion being provided with both spiral grooves, so that both sleeved ratchet-disks may travel over this part..

On one end of the shaft E, which, as is evi dent, performs the function of the drive-shaft, as well as the other functions which have been and may be attributed thereto, is located outside of the end frameadrive-pulley E2, which is to be belted tothe driven device. On the other end of the shaft Eis a pinion l), which engages the internally-cogged rim sot a governor-wheel K, turning on a stud l, projecting from the main frame. l'o this governor-wheel are pivoted the Weights M M, having springs m m',aud on one weight isa pro- -jection m, which connects bya universaljoint with a pitman-rod j', whose other end is pivotally fastened to on'e arm of a bell-crank lever J, pivoted on the inain frame and having its other arm pivoted to a link I', having preferably a yoked end z' so formed that it may around the steam-inlet pipe, and said yoke/L' is pivotally connected to a transverse shaft a', whose ends` are attached to arms (t a, secured tothe journals or pins U2 of the 'lhis spirally-grooved shaft E passes IOO IIO

valve B. (See Fig. 13.) In this manner the movement ofthe shaft E in its rotation is transmitted to the valve which supplies and cuts oii the steam. There `is alsoloeated 'within each ofthe hollow piston-heads what I term a stop-block or reversingfhlock,

the'fnnction otwhich is to assist inreversing and' also in con trolling they proper position of .the ratchetdisk, holding the same disengaged freni both sets of ratchet-teeth wlleneverneed ful. One of the stop-blocks is shown. in per` 'spective in Fig. 14, and the detailed construetion is brought out clearly therein and in Figs. and lh. They consist, simply, or a suitably` shaped block N, adapted to rest in the pisy ton-head loosely enough to permit a certain amount of horizontalmovement or sidewis'e play. The block has a central opening n, large enough to allow the ratehet-disk to pass into and partially through the block when the latter is placed in position. The periphery of this opening n `is beveled on opposite sides et the block with oppositely-locate1l inclines yto provide sloping faces fn h2, which, faces, it will be seen, aresubstantall y parallel to cach other, but lie on opposite sides of the ratchet disk, and the beveled edges of said disk are adapted to come in contact with said faces n' n2, although said faces are not near enough together to allow the disk to touch them both simultaneously, and one ortho other is brought contiguous to its adjacent edge of the disk by the horizontal shifting of the block. It maybe further stated that these faces n and n2 form stops, they being so located that they are brought into use separately, as occasion re qnires, to fprevent the disk from being engaged with' one or the other set ot ratchetteeth, according to the movements et the engine, and when one stop-is acting the other is out of the way, so that although the dish;` cannot engage with one set of teeth, owingto the interposition ot vthe block, yet it may engage the other set of teeth, an'd this continues until the block shifts its position in reversing the engi-ne, all of which will he more clearly understood: as soon as I describe the operation of the engine. Each of thereversing oz itV blocks is provided. with a pair ot poi: incline-faced projections O O, which project through the openings G G in the covers G and play sidewise in these openings whenever the blocks shift. Further, itwill be seen that a horizontal lever P is pivoted at one end ot the engine, said lever having two inclined projections q g, and that another similar lever P Vis pivoted at'the other end of the cngine, said lever? having,r a couple of inclined projections rr, the two levers l and il being connected by a linlt p. The lever l) has a handle YS rovided with a catch s engagingT 7 7 D n the segment S. The projections q qand also the projections r are so situated as to be struck by the inclined projections O O on the blocksN. p So longI as the'levors lJ and il retain one position the contact of projections 0 0 with projections q Q and r r will not effect ahead.

next reciprocation of the piston [the pointsof ,each bloclcwill strike the respective levers and the-incljnes of one projection O will ride up the incline of one projectionar-and on the .return stroke the incline ot a projection 0 on the other block will ride up the incline of one projection r, and thus blocks N will be shifted in different directions 'and caused to occupy their other positions, where they will act as stops ter the ratchet-disks. A

'lllieoperation ot'niy improved engine will new he'described. Suppose thc'valve 13 to he in the position shown in Fig. 2, with steam entering` through inlet I) in the direction of the arrow shown in full lilies into the interior of cylinder A between the diaphragm or par titlon l5 and the piston-head C. This will actuate the piston toward the right, as. indicated oy the arrow, the piston-hcad G going (See Fig. 2) Such movement of the piston will cause the loosely-plaoed sleeved rachetdisk F within head C to engage' its set of teeth f' with the ratchet-teeth c on the head C, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and ll, while its teethf will not be engaged with teeth g, and thus the disk F will loc lceptfrom revolving and caused to pursue a rectilinear movement along with the piston-head, and as said disk is connected with the spirally-grooved shaft by the internal spiral rib working in` the spiral groove the latter 'shaft will revolve in the direction shown by the arrow inFig. 2. With the other ratchet-dish, which is in piston-head C, a reverse condition of the parts will obtain d urine, this movement of the piston, for both sets of the ratchet-teeth of the dish are disengaged from both sets of teeth on the head, the teeth f becoming disengaged t'roin teeth c the moment this piston move' IOO occupy the position shown in Fig. l, and'that the stop-block in piston-head C keeps the disk therein free during the reciprocation to tlie right and the stop-block in piston-head 'C' keeps the dish therein treeduring the reciprocation te `the left. Further, thc twistof the shaft it consequent upon the advance of the piston rotates pinion L and governor-wheel l, and motion is therebytransmitted through pitinan y, liclhcranlc d', link l, rod a,and arms n, n, to valve i3', which gradually rotates, so

'that by the time the piston reaches the limit` of its che the ste-ain will have been cut off trom entering into space between partition B and head C' and directed into space between partition l and head C, `the valve assuming the position shown in dotted `lines in Fig. the exhaust, so `that `the and thus opening yss steam which has done its work against piston-head C can find its way out through the exhaust. So much for what takes place at one reciproeation of the piston, which, for the sake of explanation, we have chosen to con- Sider as its first movement toward the right' hand.

IVe will n'ow explain the reverse reciprocation. The steam now entering against head C will drive the piston toward the left. vThe reverse movement of certain of the parts will now occur. The ratchet-disk within head (2 will have both sets of teeth disengaged from the teeth on the head C', thus setting it free and permitting it to revolve idlywith shaft E. Its position at this time is shown in Fig. 17, where it. will be seen how the stop-block serves to hold the disk and keep teeth ffrom engaging teeth g, which engagement would naturally take place if the block were not so located as to prevent it, (and which engagement actually does take .place when the engine is reversed andthe block shifted out of the way.) The ratchet-disk within piston-head C, however, now operates in the same manner that ratchet-disk in head C did during the other reciprocation. Its teeth fare now engaged with teeth g on the piston-head, so that revolution of the disk is prevented, and consequently arotary movement is imparted to the shaft E, and since this end of t-he shaft is provided with spiral e, which is the reverse of spiral e on the other end of the shaft, the directionof rotationof the shaft E is the same as it was during the last reciproeation. Consequently the same movement of the valve takes place as did during the other stroke, and hence when the piston gets tothe end of its recip'roeation to the left the valve will have been so changed as to permit another reciprocation to the right to begin immediately; also it is plain that so long as the engine is not reversed the shaft E will revolve in the same direction and a very high speed of revolution will be attained. The governor which I have described' will regulate and control the speed in the usual manner. In actual practiceV I have already attained a speed of four thousand revolutions per minute, so that my engine is especially adapted for use where very great speed is required.

\Ve will now briefly consider what takes place when the engine is reversed. 'lo reverse, the engineer simply takes hold of the handle S and throws the levers l" P from the position shown in Fig. l to the position in Figs. 5 and 18. During the first reciprocation after reversal the blocks N N will obviously remain in the same position as they were before; but as soon as the inclined projections strike the points on thc levers standing in ytheir way and now changed in position these blocks N N will be shifted horizontally, so as to take the positions shown in Fig. 5 instead of those depicted in Figs. l and i7, and the blocks will maintain these positions until again caused to slide at an-` other reversing. Snppose now we are observing the piston as it makes a reciprocation to the right in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 5. The ratchet-disk F in piston-head Ugis disengaged from both sets of teeth on the piston-head, because the stopblock in its new position holds the disk in this way during the reci procation to the right, whereas before reversal the stop-blockl kept the disk in head C disengaged during the reciprocation to the left. Looking again at Fig. 5, we see that the disk F in head C has its teeth f engaged with teeth g.

reetion of the arrow in Fig. 5, which direction is opposite to the direction of rot-ation of the shaft E in Fig. 2. When the piston moves to the left, the disk F in head C will have its teeth f engaged with teeth g and shaft E will continue its rotation, as shown, the disk F in head C being now' free. Further, the motion`through the .rovernor and leverage will be transmitted', to the supplyvalve, as before, causing it to supply and cut off the steam in the necessary' way. 'lhus it will be seen thatthe engagement of the ratchet-disk with the piston-covers causes shaft E to rotate in one direction, while its engagement with the teeth on the inside of the head proper causes said shaft to rotate in the reverse direction.

Many changes may be made in the construction, arrangement, proportion, size, relation, and form of the various parts without departing from the invention. That I have shown is by way of example and explanation. I can build the engine as may seem best to adapt it to such exigencies and demands as may be needful.

llaving' thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a double-headed piston, a tubular eonnection between the heads, a spirally-grooved shaft running through it, an internally ribbed ratchet-disk in each piston-head engaging the shaft and adapted to automatically clutch the piston-heads, so-that the shaft may revolve as the piston reciprocates, and a valve operated by said shaft to supply the steam.'

2. In an engine, the'combination of a cyl- 4. The combination of a cylinder, adoublcg headed piston therein whose heads have a tubular connection, a spirally-grooved shaft Hence the, shaft E will be caused to rotate in the di.

tog

IIO

ru nning through the same, :t valve operated by seid shaft to supply thesteain, and a ratchetdisk and stop-block in each piston-head.

'. The combination of a cylinder, adouble -headed piston whose heads are hollow and have e. 4tubular connection, n. grooved shaft running through the saine, a valve connected to and operated by the sh'at't, a lgovernor between the shaft and valve, and nmratchchdisk and stopblock in each pistoirhead.

G. The combination ot' a cylinder,adoiibleheeded vpiston whose heads are hollow and have a tubular connection, shaft provided with `oppositely-rnnning spiral grooves and. located through the piston, sleeved ratchetdislis having; internal spiral ribs to engage the shaft and teeth -to engage corr ,pending teeth Aon the pistonhcads, and n loi-bloei: in' each piston-head. u

7. The combination of an open-ended cylinder having;` a central transverse partition, a donhleheaded piston whose heads ere hollow and have atn'hnlar connection and ere on op posit@ sides of the pnriition, a spirallggrooved shaft running through the piston, :i ratchetdisk anda stop-bloeit in enc-h p? n-heed, and a valve connected by intermediateineens with the shaft. I

S. The conihinntion olf the portitioned` cylinder, a double-headed piston whose heads are hollow and have a 'tubular connection, a shaft provided with oppositelprnnning spiriti grooves and located through 'the piston,

sleeved ratchet-disks having; internet spiralV ribs to engage the ehett and sets of teeth on their opposite faces to engage corresponding; sets of teeth on'the piston-heads, and a stop hlockvin. each piston'head.

il. ln an engine, the combination of n c vlinder, a piston moving therein having," hollow heads connected .by e tubular connection, n grooved shaft passing through the piston, a disk permanently connected to the shaft and intermittently connected to the piston, so that the rcoiprocations oi' the piston may rotate the shaft, o valve for supplying thc stoom, und also a suitable governor.

lt). The combination of the partitioned cylinder, the double-headed piston whose heads are hollow and have a tubular connection, :L shaft provided with oppositely-rnnningspiral grooves, sleeved ratchet'dislcs having internal spiral ribs to engage the shaft and 'sn-ts ot teeth on their opposite faces to engage corresponding sets ot' teeth on the pistorrheeid, and a stop-block in each piston-head, having` snitahle connections and pointed pi'cjections,sub stantielly as described. .Y

1l. The combination of the cylinder, a double-headed piston whose heads nrc hollowT and arerprovided with slotted covers, sold heads having likewise a tubular ci'mnection, n shaft provided with oppositely running Aspiral grooves, the sleeved ratchet-disks havingl internal spiral ribslto origano the shnft, sets of teeth on th cir opposite faces to engage corre ispondinglhets of teeth on' the piston-heads,

donhlehehded piston whoseheads are hollon .ratol'ieodisk having,r sets ot' ratchet-te`ethw inder, a double-headed piston whose heetv and beveled edges to engage inclineson the; stop'blocks, together with a stop-block in ca clr 1f w pistondlead, having projectionslocated within:` y7o the slots ot' the piston-covers, substantially asv' described.

12 The combination of the cylinder,

and have. a tnbnlar connection, a spirally- 75, grooved shaft running' through the piston,'tlie' stop-block arranged within 'cach piston-head in connection with the ratchet-disk, said stop-,J blocks` having inclined projections, and thee reversing `leverage `adapted to operate in con ncction with tho inclined projections ot' the, 1 i stop-blocks, substantially as described. Ai.. 13. The combination ot the partitioned cylare hollow and have a tnbnler connection, sha-tt provided with oppositely-rnn ning spiral, grooves and located 4 th rough the v piston sleeved ratchet-disks'having internal spiraw ribs to engage -the sha-Ft nndsets of teeth on their opposite faces to engage corresponding sets of teeth on the interior of thel piston heads, stop-block in each piston-heed, hevl ing oppositely-located inclines and pointed projections, the reversing leveragein oon'neotion with which the pointed projections o the stop-,block operate, the 'va-ivo for suppl, ing and cnttinc;l` o'tf the steain'to the vcylinder and the leverage, and gearing connectionsb tween said valve and the grooved shaft., elije arranged so that dnring't-lie reoiprocations the piston vsaid shaft may be canse-L to revolve` "dit 'inr the saine direction, except when the engine is reversed, snbstantiallyes described.

l-l. The combination ot" the partitioned cyl` 105 inder. the piston moving` therein, the spil-elly groovedvshaft, a ratcheedislc end n stop-block within each pistoxrhend, a valve for supplying steam, and con neetions between the valve and the shaft, consisting of e disk orioneend no of said shaft., en internnllvcogged governorwheel engaging said disk, a pitman-rod connected to the lgfovernol.' by n, universel joint, a bell-crank pivoted to the other end of said. rod, and a link oonnectiirt,y one end ot said 1x5 crank with arms on the valve-journals, substantially as described. Y,

15. The combination of the cylinder, a

- double-headed piston whose bends aire hollow and have tubular connection, n. shaft proizo vided with oppositely-runningspiral grooves, sleeved ratchet-disks havingr internal spiral ribs to engage the shaft and sets of teeth on their opposite faces to engage corresponding,r sets ot teeth on the piston-heads, c stop- 125 bloclc in each piston-head, a snpply-valvo for thc steam, a pinion on one end of the groovcd shaft, a governor for regulating the spoed, said governorboing geared to the aforo,- said pinion, and leverage connections between 13o the governor and supply-valve, substantially asdescribcd.

lli. The combination of the cylinder, a donblwheadcd piston whose heads are hollow and have a tubular connection, a shaft having spiral grooves therein and located through thc piston, ratchet-disks within each head, havingintcrnal spiral ribs to engage the shaft and Sets of teeth on their opposite faces to engage corresponding sets of teeth on the piston-heads, which blocks have pointed projections, and the reversing leverage consisting of levers pivoted at each end of the cylinder and provided with pairs ot' inclined faces, in connection with which the stop-block connections operate, substantially as described.

17. The combination of a steam-cylinder i having open ends and a central transverse partition, a piston having hollow heads which are connected by means of a tubular connection, said heads being situated on opposite sides of the central partition and the said tubular connection working through an opening in the central partition, a spirally-grooved shaft running through the tubular connection, and means for connecting the aforesaid piston-heads to this spiral shaft for the purpose of revolving it, together with a valve operated by said shaft to supply the steam, and a ratchet-disk and stop-block in each piston-head, substantially as described.

1S. In an engine, the combination of a cylindelga piston moving therein, a grooved rotary shaft passing through the piston, and a ratchet-disk which is internally ribbed to permanently engage the shaftand is intermittent-ly connected to the piston, so that the rea stop-block in each piston-heath forintermittently ci procations of the latter may rotate the shaft, substantially as deseribct.

19. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston therein, a grooved rotary shaft passing through the piston, a ratchetdevice making connection between the pistonand t'he shaft, and a reversing stopblock, substantially as described.

.20. The combination of acylinder, a doubleheaded piston whose heads are hollow and have a tubular connection, a grooved rotary shaft passing axially through the piston, and a ratchet mechanism in each head forintermittently making connection between the piston and shaft.

-S21. Thecombination ofa headed piston .whose heads are hollow and have a tubular connection, a grooved rotary shaft passing through the piston, and ratchetcylinder, a doubledisks having internal ribs to engage the shaft and teeth to engage with corresponding teethl on the piston-heads. 22. Thecombination of a cylinder, a piston therein, a grooved rotary shaft passing axially through the piston, and a ratchet-disk engaging the shaft and having teeth that engage corresponding teeth on the piston.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN V. RICE, JR.

Witnesses:

HENRY B. BOLTON, WM. L. BoYDEN. 

